California Community Foundation: Portraits of Compassion

California Community Foundation commissioned me to photographed ten individuals who are giving selflessly and making a positive impact in Los Angeles County. I created environmental portraits of each individual in places where they engage with their communities, informed by research, conversations, and site visits. The images were exhibited at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in a group exhibition titled Portraits of Compassion alongside the work of photographers Noé Montes and Sam Comen.

Maria Sipin of Multicultural Communities for Mobility at Union Station in Los Angeles

Yasuko Sakamoto of Little Tokyo Service Center in Los Angeles

Hayward Gray, Jr. of People Coordinated Services Senior Center in Los Angeles

Mud Baron of John Muir High School Ranch in Pasadena

Santiago Ortega of St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood

Michael Quill of L.A. Waterkeeper in Santa Monica Bay


The making of Unsung Heroes of L.A. County - Storytelling

Short film by Shireen Alihaji